July 1, 2005 (Park City, Utah) – Masters National Championship road racing continued yesterday in Park City under clear skies. Six new champions received stars and stripes jerseys on the final day of road races at the Park City Cycling Festival.

John Haney’s 600 miles of training for today’s road race paid off for him as he rode off all alone to claim the morning’s first victory. The new men’s 60-64 road race national champion got away from the bunch in the second lap of the Solamere course. After a total of 30.9 miles, Haney (PCCC) rode in at an hour and 15 minutes.

“I wasn’t really trying to take off,” he explained afterwards. “I was trying to break the field up, but as my lead grew I just tried to extend it.” Despite strong efforts from a few chasers, Haney crossed the finish line 40 seconds ahead of his nearest threat. Making the silver medal effort today was Richard Shields (Team Hammer Gel) while teammate James Fox (Team Hammer Gel) claimed the bronze medal. Hardin Davis (Utah Premier) and John Phillips (unattached) earned the right to stand on the fourth and fifth steps of the podium.

Toeing the line next for one lap less than the previous group were the men 65-59. After the first big climb, four riders split from the rest of the pack and formed a gap that lasted the remainder of the race. On the second climb, the four leaders shattered into individual racers and that is where defending national champion Scott Tucker (Lakewood Racing Team) was able to gain his lead, a lead that he held all the way across the finish line. About a minute and a half back was Tucker’s teammate, today’s silver medalist William Meyers (Lakewood Racing Team). The gold and silver medal pair also posted the top two times in the Masters Time Trial National Championships earlier this week. Jim Turner (Webcor/Alto Velo), Jacobo Melcer (San Diego Cyclo-Vets),and Dennis Hall Sr.(unattached) were third, fourth, and fifth.

In the men’s 70+ race, it was Richard Finch (Baddlands Racing Team) who was able to fulfill his stars and stripes dreams. A small field of only 7 riders left the start finish at 1:00 this afternoon for their contest of 6 laps on the Solamere course. Finch, Ray Sweet (Laurel Bike Club), and Robert Visser (Karl Strauss/Team Sdbc) broke off from the other four and worked together well for most of the race until the new national champion made his decisive move and broke away from the other two. After an hour and seven minutes, he fought his way up the final climb to the 7,000 foot finish with a big smile on his face. Sweet took the silver, Visser the bronze, and Will Lindsay (Snake River Cyclists) and Robert Peterson (DMOS) took fourth and fifth.

Elizabeth Tyrell (Somerset Wheelman) rode to victory in the women’s 50-54 race to claim her 22nd National Championship title. The six-lap contest got underway as a selection of four riders split off from the remainder of the field on the second lap. Just as in the previous races of the day, the leaders split a part on a climb and Tyrell took off by herself to eventually form a two-minute gap. She came in for the win in just over an hour. The new national champion was followed in 2nd by Linda Schepf (Simple Gren) and in third by Cynthia Swain (Team Champion/Tom’s Pro Bike). Securing the final two steps on the podium were Barbara Grabowski (Upmc Cycling Performance) and Jo Garruccio (Canyon Bicycles).

In the final race of the day, a combined field of women 55-59 and 60+ toed the line together. Georgene Vairo (Firestone Griffen) was the first woman to fight her way back up the climb that leads into the start finish after 6 laps of the course. She took today’s gold medal in the women’s 55-59 group and was followed in 2nd by Martha Iverson (Durango Wheel Club). Third place went to Marie Derosa (Sanchez/Metro), while fourth went to Melanie Rineer (Mountain Velo Cycling Team).

Joann Meyer (Celo Pacific) realized her stars and stripes dreams today by winning the Womens’ 60+ race followed by 2-time World Masters Triathlon Champion Jan Miller (unattached) in second, Priscilla Woods (unattached), and Lois Lindsay (Snake River Cyclists) in fourth.

Today marks the end of road racing. Masters Criterium National Championships begin in the morning with the women 55-59 and 60+.

Top 5 from each of today’s races:

Master Men 60-64
1. John Haney (PCCC)
2. Richard Shields (Team Hammer Gel)
3. James Fox (Team Hammer Gel)
4. Hardin Davis (Utah Premier)
5. John Phillips (unattached)

Master Men 65-69
1. Scott Tucker (Lakewood Racing Team)
2. William Meyers (Lakewood Racing Team)
3. Jim Turner (Webcor/Alto Velo)
4. Jacob Melcer (San Diego Cyclo-Vets)
5. Dennis Hall, Sr. (unattached)

Master Men 70+
1. Richard Finch (Baddlands Racing Team)
2. Ray Sweet (Laurel Bike Club)
3. Robert Visser (Karl Strauss/Team Sdbc)
4. Will Lindsay (Snake River Cyclists)
5. Robert Peterson (DMOS)

Master Women 50-54
1. Elizabeth Tyrell (Somerset Wheelmen)
2. Linda Schnepf (Simple Green)
3. Cynthia Swain (Team Champion/Tom’s Pro Bike)
4. Barbara Grabowski (Upmc Cycling Performance)
5. Jo Garrucco (Canyon Bicycles)

Master Women 55-59
1. Georgene Vairo (Firestone Griffen)
2. Martha Iverson (Durango Wheel Club)
3. Marie Derosa (Sanchez/Metro)
4. Melanie Rineer (Mountain Velo Cycling Team)

Master Women 60+
1. Joann Meyer (Celo Pacific)
2. Jan Miller (unattached)
3. Priscilla Woods (unattached)
4. Lois Lindsay (Snake River Cyclists)